Xuanyuan knelt beside his mother's bed for the entire night, only rising when dawn broke the next day.
He threaded the Jade Pendant onto a cord and hung it around his neck.
Then he gathered everyone together, stood atop a large boulder, and looked down at the anxious, fearful faces below.
"From today onward, my name is Xuanyuan."
"The wolf demon who killed my parents is called Iron Mane.
"It occupies Black Wind Ridge in the north. I will have my revenge."
The clan members looked at him, their eyes filled with fear, doubt, and hope.
"But revenge will not come today," Xuanyuan said.
"Today, we first settle the survivors.
"Starting tomorrow, we will grow stronger!
"Strong enough to chop off Iron Mane's head."
Xuanyuan led the remnants into the mountains and set up camp.
The first thing he did was not train soldiers, but farm.
Only after they had filled their stomachs and settled down could they talk about what came next.
Xuanyuan sent people to scout the mountains and discovered an open patch of land with decent soil, perfect for growing crops.
So he led the others in turning over the earth and scattering seeds.
Then he took the hunting party into the mountains to hunt, trading animal hide with the cities Down the Mountain for food and salt.
When there was not enough food, he rationed it.
Adults got one bowl of porridge a day. Children got half a bowl.
He always drank only half of his own bowl, pouring the other half back into the pot, adding another ladle of water, and cooking it into thinner porridge for the sick.
Someone tried to persuade him. "Chief, you need to eat more. What will we do if you collapse?"
Xuanyuan shook his head. "I will not starve